Laboratory of Astrophysics

Welcome

The Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO) at the EPFL covers a wide range of complementary expertise, with a focus on advanced research and high-quality education of the next generation of astronomers.

With a presence at two locations, the EPFL campus in Lausanne and the Astronomical Observatory at Sauverny near Geneva, the research team at LASTRO takes a leading role in various international consortiums and projects focused on extragalactic astrophysics and observational cosmology.

New cosmic research results confirm Einstein's Theory of Gravity

Published:27.11.24 — The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument is a large-scale astronomical survey designed to map the universe in three dimensions, aiming to deepen our understanding of the cosmos, particularly focusing on dark energy and gravity at cosmological scales. In its first year of data collection, DESI hs mapped nearly 6 million galaxies across 11 billion years of cosmic history. These observations confirm Einstein's theory of general relativity on cosmological scales with greater precision than in the past twenty years.

Purchase credit cards – SDG2 switch to Demat invoice system

Published:15.04.24 — New purchasing credit card for processing monthly statements via Sesame.

Picture the Universe: CSCS and PASC project supports future SKA

Published:19.01.23 — The Square Kilometre Array Observatory is scheduled for completion by 2030. Once operational, it will generate 600 petabytes of astronomical data per year. Scientists in Switzerland are working diligently to develop part of the supercomputing infrastructure and software that will process this enormous amount of data efficiently. CSCS is lending its expertise from many years of experience in handling large amounts of data, while a project financed by the PASC initiative and led by EPFL researchers is increasing the efficiency of the data processing software.

RADIOBLOCKS

Published:12.12.22 — RADIOBLOCKS: A New European Consortium to develop Next Generation Technologies for Radio Astronomy Infrastructures

© 2022 SKAO. A composite image of the future SKA telescopes, an artist's impression.

Radio astronomy to foster Swiss research and industry

Published:25.05.22 — By becoming a member of the SKA Observatory (SKAO), the largest and most ambitious radio astronomy collaboration in the world, Switzerland intends to foster Swiss research and industry while contributing to an international initiative that promises to revolutionize our understanding of the Universe.

Cosmic web orchestrates the progression of galaxies

Published:25.02.22 — The shape of galaxies and how they evolve depend on a web of cosmological filaments that run across the Universe. According to a recent study headed by EPFL’s Laboratory of Astrophysics, this cosmic web plays a much bigger role than previously thought.

Conference Picture

09-06-2021

Gravitational lens of 2 galaxies in front of a quasar

Using gravitational lensing to measure the Hubble Constant

07-04-2020

The EPFL Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO) is involved in an international research project to measure the Hubble constant, also known as the expansion rate of the Universe. The methods rely on gravitational lenses and the measurement of time delays between multiple images of quasars that are billions of light years away. One such recent image (…)

New technique to survey Milky Way aims to unlock mysteries of early Galaxy formation

18-02-2020

Researchers at EPFL’s Laboratory of Astrophysics are part of an international consortium of scientists that have designed a new method of conducting an exhaustive view of the oldest and most metal-poor stars in the Milky-WayThe science of observational cosmology involves the study of the structure and origin of the Universe. It can be conducted by (…)